one word
I typically am not a big New Year's resolutions kind of girl. I think they are wonderful and I love the idea of new beginnings and fresh starts, but for me, January 1 is not the time of year that I associate with this sort of change. I typically find August a time for fresh starts as we begin a new schedule and school routine. By January, we are smack dab in the middle of the school year and extracurricular activities.
That being said, there is something about all of the resolution talk in combination with the return of life to normal after the busy fun of the past two months (Halloween through New Year's seems to be one busy weekend after another around here) that has me thinking more about change this January than most. Rather than making a list of changes I want to implement, though, I've given it much thought and there is one word I am going to adopt this new year as something to focus on.
You might have heard about this "one word" movement before. It is most definitely not my original idea. The idea is that you adopt one word to be sort of a mantra for your year. I've seen people (bloggers) have words like "create" and "healthy" and "rest" and "open" and "serve" and have enjoyed their sharing of the journey they took with their word over the course of a year. I've never participated, though I've been tempted for a few years now.
The word I've chosen to focus on for 2015 is slow.
I want to slow to enjoy the moment I am in instead of thinking about everything else that needs to be done. There are sometimes entire days when I do not really stop to just enjoy. I wonder how many possible bonding moments I miss with family and friends as I rush from one activity or chore or task to the next. I know that all too often my answer to a request from one of my kids is, "Maybe in just a minute. I need to finish this (laundry, dinner, cleaning, email, etc.) first."
I want to slow to lose my patience with a child/children/argument/noisy situation. All too often lately, I react automatically without first thinking about the situation. Ben and I joke that four kids have drained all of the patience out of us, but I don't want to be the type of parent quick to lose her temper.
I want to slow to savor my food and drink and slow to throwing quick food at my family. I used to be more deliberate in meal planning, but over the past months, there have been many days when it is 4:30, the kids are getting hungry, and I have no plan for dinner.
I want to slow my mind. I worry too much about things I can't control. My mind is so full of to-do lists and worries and plans that I exhaust me sometimes.
I have no false assumptions that I will be able to successfully do all of these things. So not realistic, I know. I do hope, though, that by being more conscious of this word, I may make some positive changes around here. (Also nothing like writing about it and sharing it with others to make me more accountable.....)
That being said, there is something about all of the resolution talk in combination with the return of life to normal after the busy fun of the past two months (Halloween through New Year's seems to be one busy weekend after another around here) that has me thinking more about change this January than most. Rather than making a list of changes I want to implement, though, I've given it much thought and there is one word I am going to adopt this new year as something to focus on.
You might have heard about this "one word" movement before. It is most definitely not my original idea. The idea is that you adopt one word to be sort of a mantra for your year. I've seen people (bloggers) have words like "create" and "healthy" and "rest" and "open" and "serve" and have enjoyed their sharing of the journey they took with their word over the course of a year. I've never participated, though I've been tempted for a few years now.
The word I've chosen to focus on for 2015 is slow.
I want to slow to enjoy the moment I am in instead of thinking about everything else that needs to be done. There are sometimes entire days when I do not really stop to just enjoy. I wonder how many possible bonding moments I miss with family and friends as I rush from one activity or chore or task to the next. I know that all too often my answer to a request from one of my kids is, "Maybe in just a minute. I need to finish this (laundry, dinner, cleaning, email, etc.) first."
I want to slow to lose my patience with a child/children/argument/noisy situation. All too often lately, I react automatically without first thinking about the situation. Ben and I joke that four kids have drained all of the patience out of us, but I don't want to be the type of parent quick to lose her temper.
I want to slow to savor my food and drink and slow to throwing quick food at my family. I used to be more deliberate in meal planning, but over the past months, there have been many days when it is 4:30, the kids are getting hungry, and I have no plan for dinner.
I want to slow my mind. I worry too much about things I can't control. My mind is so full of to-do lists and worries and plans that I exhaust me sometimes.
I have no false assumptions that I will be able to successfully do all of these things. So not realistic, I know. I do hope, though, that by being more conscious of this word, I may make some positive changes around here. (Also nothing like writing about it and sharing it with others to make me more accountable.....)
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